"Qala-I-Bist"

So in our area of operation (AO) happens to be some ruins of palaces from Alexander the Great and many more conquerors that followed. There happens to be several smaller palaces along the Helmand River but the main one, Qala-I-Bist (castle at Bist), we recently visited. A few pics above. The palace was built in a huge rock mountain along the river a couple thousand years ago, or if my history it wrong, whenever the heck Alex the Great was hanging out in this area for vacation. So, at the top, used to be a much more. The surviving part is in the rock itself. You look down these huge shafts that are bricked about 200 feet down into the rock. It's absolutely amazing. When you look around, the basic people in this country can't build better than this, 2000 years later, albeit some western trained people can throw some construction up. (not up to code, mind you). Anyway, they built it with canals running through the base of the palace, channeled from the Helmand R. They say the Soviets still used it when they occupied the country.
I haven't had much research time but some words translated from Arabic to English have multiple spellings. The area is no longer referred to as "Bist" but is "Bost." So, if you are history minded you can google up Qala-I-Bist or Qali Bost or Bist etc. You know how this game works. There are interesting articles etc on the net. Moving on....
Happy to inform you that the striped hyena is still alive, well and feisty. The monkey, however, has found a new home. Don't know if that was at a dinner table or if the monkey moved to a new check point with the prior crew.
Half the police checkpoints we went to on this mission had several, if not all, young lads high as kites. Nice, eh. Go patrol. Can you see? Can you walk? Can you shoot for God's sake. Where the hell is your commander?!!!!! I'm a doc on the edge, you're lucky I don't shoot you just to have something to do!!!!

Better Found at Police Checkpoint.........

We've been checking on a lot of checkpoints lately. Got a few pics to share of one of the checkpoints. We were doing our stuff. Checking on the police blah blah blah and Allman and I went down into this underground part of this checkpoint and saw some gifts pictured above. Chinese origin. We figured, better found here than elsewhere.........
We kept collecting these things as we went along and putting them in the back of Sekula's truck. SFC L Johnson shown on the .50 cal was not too amused!! "Why are you putting all these in my vehicle?" Me: "Because I don't want them in mine!!!!!" I'm thinking of sending them home as center pieces for my sister-in-law's wedding. Candle light, you know. Sets the mood. Anybody have any objections?
Scotty, glad you're home safely from the Far East. Lot's of anticipation is going into your last comment. Go Dawgs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monet, I don't know why he guards the pics so much. SGM control issues. I'll start counseling statements with him and have him on appropriate meds when he arrives home.

Another Blog

Hey all. Sergeant Major (Danny) Allman's wife has started a blog that I've linked called "Danny and Monet." She's going to keep up with things going on as well. It's a classier blog than mine with the obvious touch of the more popular feminine species. Since Danny has a hard time sharing photos from his Hajee camera, you may get some really good views that I've not even seen. You can ask him about some of that self centered behavior at another time when I'm not within his reach!! (:
Another buddy, said USC fan below, is moving up to Partamian land. Check his lovely world out at the Wagenseller in Afghanistan link. He's in the AMEDD Nurse Corps and has capacity to feel my pain! Another driver in the making. I may tear up. He makes me so proud.

N

Harsh Comments

OK, so the pics of my room initiated some comments from a few peoples. I won't mention names but the USC (Cal.) fan Ward Wagenseller comes to mind. Somebody needs to remind him which conferences actually have to play hard to get to bowl games. I'm not saying who should do that, but.....OK I'll start. HMMMMM, maybe SEC and Big Ten. No doubt in God's creation, the SEC is the hardest conference ever. No body beats the tar out of you one game after another like the SEC, and I'm a Big Ten fan too. That's an undisputed fact year after year on ESPN as well. Pacific teams go into bowl games strong because the powder puff football they play during the year doesn't get any of their starters hurt. Mind you USC's starters are pretty good.
I'm not opinionated or anything......I'm just saying.........
So, for the public bashing I've released on the good captain, I'll buy him a Frappe (yes the almighty Frappe) from Green Beane next time we're in KAF together. Plus, I know a response will be flying in soon and oh captain, my captain's wrath will dwindle down my way.
Despite all this team/conference rivalry, as long as Georgia beats South Carolina its a winning season for me! As many of you know, all of us here mobilized are here to help Camp Phoenix, being controlled by South Carolina National Guard. If we lose to SC, we (especially the 16 from GA) will hear nothing but "cock" talk for the next nine months.
I'm not opinionated......I'm just saying........
Because I know its rehashing is coming.....Yes, on behalf of all Buckeye fans, last year was an absolute embarrassment. We all got it and still get.

N

My Room

I thought I'd give you a shot of my living area. I share this room with 2 other guys. This is my little corner of realestate. Not much but its better than the tent! Up top is my pharmacy and library. I thought about moonlighting as a pharmacist but the Army looks down upon that behavior when they give you the meds for free!

Yes! A Hyena it is.

Yes, we have verification of the Hyena status of the crack addict pictured below. However, new info from a comment gave us more info that Aardwolves are only in Africa. See all the important information you can learn from this blog. As well, we learned further that this poor creature was captured as a "pup" by the ANP and kept as a "pet." No wonder it's so angry. They say they're indigenous to this area. Moving on.

Some pics to go along with our mission the other day. Two of Sekula and me on some palace ruins and one of us crossing the Helmand River. I was the 6th vehicle and got stuck in the tracks of prior vehicles. Embarrassing for a JEEP owner. It couldn't have been the underpowered engine or the 15000 pounds of steel sinking into the softened river bed below me. No!!! It had to be my poor driving skills!

We ended up cruising a little out of our way into Taliban land for a couple of hours. Ironically, I think they were so shocked to see us in there turf it caught them off guard. We didn't get into contact at all. You should have see some of the looks on their faces as British vehicles and our Humvees drove by on these near impassible roads. They were priceless.

This area west of the Helmand has impressive water channels built for farming and the crops were stunning. I finally figured out where all the food came from down here, not to mention the phenomenal amount of poppy and marijuana that was intermingled amongst the corn etc. Lots and lots of marijuana!!!!!!!!! You know, it's very holistic and good for glaucoma!! I hear that all the time.

Anyway, enjoy.

Lost.......uh......um......what the H........You had me at hello.

Found at checkpoint. Lost something. Cross between inner city crack addict, chuwawa and hyena. Kind of reminds me of my future brother-in-laws dog. You should see that thing!

Anyway, I'm pretty much tapped out on this one. It speaks for itself. They call it an ardwolf. I'm doubtful simply because 80% of the population is illiterate and I haven't seen and encyclopedia in country yet.

Best view yet

Ironically, Afghanistan has been fought over essentially its entire existance. Mind you, we're down south and I haven't seen much worth fighting over yet. When you see green down here its poppy or a fresh Mary Jane plant and some corn blah blah. So, we go on this mission along the river and I had to admit there was some stunning terrain. I'm actually thinking about starting a realestate business over here. It may pay off in 40 years or so. By the time we get out of here I could be an official tour guide. For some reason I don't think my wife would be up for it.

Anyway, some of you may know that many major figures built palaces and compounds all over this country. In the south, everything worth while runs along a river.

Here are some pics of a spot we checked out. I kept asking Sekula where the friggin "brown sign" (you know the ones I'm talking about) was to tell us who lived there and why it was important. I had visions of my mother reading the "brown sign" all the way across the country in order to further Shane's and my knowledge. Flashbacks man! Anyway, I found myself desiring that damn sign. Never found the sign but we did find some scat and saw a few Taliban hauling tail away from us on the opposite side of the river.

Checkout Corrigan's "Helmand 911" page for some new updates. He's got some good comments on the pictures.

Some hash, a ferry and a .50

Some pics from a recent mission around Helmand River. It's clear, blue, beautiful and full of God knows what. Down the cliff looking up is Henry "J" on the .50 cal overlooking the river. This was a joint patrol and one of the Brit medics was looking at a recently treated gunshot wound through a foot. We took out stitches, dressed it and gave him some meds. Last but not least, the Helmand Ferry. Hmmm! I had to watch this guy cross with the bike. I kept waiting for the inevitable tip but it never came. These people are too experienced to let it happen.

At one of the checkpoints today we came across a kid that looked about 12 but was "in the ANP" despite his lack of identification. The funny part is that he was high as a kite hash. We kept pointing him in the direction we wanted him to go and he kept wandering off. I think one of our Majors was almost ready to shoot him out of principle. The rest of us thought it was pretty funny. He failed most of the sobriety tests without even being tested.

N

Scotty, don't eat too much sushi and watch out for the liquor over there, it sneeks up on you. (He's in Japan doing some PhD stuff)

Yes, JP I took the book from your bunk.

No good title available

Honey, the forbidden has been mixed. I love you. Tell the "Royalty" thanks as well!

Some shots from Kabul. Hope you like them, they impressed me when I took them. I wish you all could get the magnitude of these mountains.

Thank You God!

Oh, people, I've finally made it home (or what's come to be, at least). We got an American flight in on a Blackhawk around noon. A few million for one of those. You'd think they'd come standard with A/C but they don't. No leather either. Anyway, the flight was hot as Hades (cleaned up) over the Red Desert but nice and its good to be back. I think I'll stay for a week or so before I set over to the British hospital and get my hands bloody.
Kenny, I finally got your package. Thanks so much. The nutter butters had equal chance at survival as a Taliban in your site picture! Pow! Down they went, take that you nutter butter!
By the way, just in case you were all concerned about the "Scat Pond" at KAF, don't. It's in full effect and my nose still permiates with stink! So, everything is still ok with it. No fishing sign is still up, you'll be glad to know.
You all remember the Frappe story early on. (As depression sets in) there has been no Frappe for 2 weeks at KAF. It's a national tragedy. No friggin media on this story. I demand justice for lack of Frappe!!!!! However, I'm back and I have Cutter's Point Coffee and Starbucks to choose from. Ah, I can't wait for the morning. Yes, I said for morning. I've been trying to cut back. I know!!! You say, huh! But I said it. Yes, less than half a pot a day. Can you all believe it?
I'll get back on and ramble some more later.
N
PS, I read what I thought was an intriguing book. Michael Crichton's "State of Fear" Some language but otherwise a good book.

We're Back

I've spent the last week traveling Afghanistan on transport missions to get the internet up. Brought some guys from Kabul and took them back. Now I'm in Kandahar awaiting one of my guys to feel better before traveling again. Lots of packages have arrived and I barely had time to sort through them before leaving Lash a few days ago. I'll get into it later but thanks to Mom, Mandy, Leah, Billi and Greg (boy do I have a Ferris Bueller story for you), the Buckeye gang and the Vintage Cafe in Johnstown, NY (wow!). My internet time is short but I wanted to throw all that out while I had the chance.
All else is well. All our GA guys are safe thus far. Thanks for all your prayers and please continue to pray for all of our protection.
I've got some nice pics of Kabul etc to post soon.

N